Baliuag

Baliuag or Baliwag, officially the Municipality of Baliuag (Tagalog: Bayan ng Baliuag), is a 1st class municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the 2015 census, it has a population of 149,954 people.[4]

Baliuag Baliwág
Municipality
Municipality of Baliuag
(From top, left to right): Baliuag Museum and Library (Old Town Hall) • Baliwag Transit terminal • Baliuag Clock Tower overviewing the Baliuag Wet and Dry Market • Mariano Ponce house birthplace marker • St. Augustine Parish Church (Baliuag)
Seal
Nickname(s):  Buntal Hat Capital of the Philippines
Motto(s):  Dugong Baliwag, Pusong Baliwag (English: Baliuag by blood, Baliuag in my heart)
Map of Bulacan with Baliuag highlighted
OpenStreetMap
Baliuag Location within the Philippines
Coordinates: 14°57′N 120°54′E
Country	Philippines
Region	Central Luzon (Region III)
Province	Bulacan
District	2nd District
Founded	May 26, 1733 [1]
Barangays	27 (see Barangays)
Government  [2]
• Type	Sangguniang Bayan
• Mayor	Ferdinand Estrella (PDP-Laban)
• Vice Mayor	Christopher F. Clemente (NUP)
• Congressman	Gavini C. Pancho
• Electorate	101,946 voters (2019)
Area  [3]
• Total	45.05 km^2 (17.39 sq mi)
Population  (2015 census)[4]
• Total	149,954
• Rank	19 out of 1,489 Municipalities
• Density	3,300/km^2 (8,600/sq mi)
• Households	35,488
Demonyms	Baliuageño (male) Baliuageña (female) Baliuagenean
Economy
• Income class	1st municipal income class
• Poverty incidence	5.37% (2015)[5]
• Revenue	PHP 491.54 million (2017) [6]
• Assets	PHP 613.43 million (2017)
• Expenditure	PHP 459.84 million (2017)
Utilities
• Electricity	MERALCO
Time zone	UTC+8 (PST)
ZIP code	3006
PSGC	031403000
IDD : area code	+63 (0)44
Climate type	tropical monsoon climate
Native languages	Tagalog Kapampangan

Baliuag was founded in 1732 by Augustinian friars and was incorporated by the Spanish Governor-General on May 26, 1733. The town was a part of Quingua (now Plaridel) before.

Through the years of Spanish domination, Baliuag was predominantly agricultural. People had to depend on rice farming for the main source of livelihood. Orchards and tumanas yielded fruits and vegetables, which were sold in the public market. Commerce and industry also played important contributions to the economy of the people. Buntal hat weaving in Baliuag together with silk weaving popularly known in the world as Thai silk; the manufacturer of cigar cases, piña fibers, petates (mats), and Sillas de Bejucos (cane chairs) all of the fine quality became known in many parts of the world. The local market also grew. During the early part of the 19th century, Baliuag was already considered one of the most progressive and richest towns in Bulacan. The growth of the public market has significantly changed the model of the economy of the town.

Baliuag is the major commerce, transportation, entertainment, and educational center of Northern Bulacan. With the continuous expansion of Metro Manila, the municipality is now part of Manila's built-up area which reaches San Ildefonso in its northernmost part.

History

Fr. Joaquín Martínez de Zúñiga, OSA, a friar, in his "1803 Historia de las Islas Filipinas"[7] wrote that the Convent or Parochial house of San Agustin, in Baliuag, is the best in the whole Archipelago and that no edifice in Manila can be compared to it in symmetry and beauty amid its towering belfry, having been a viewing point of the town's panorama. The frayle further stated that the Convent was a repository of priceless parish records that dated to the founding of Baliuag as a pueblo or parrochia by the OSA or Augustinians in 1733. But the first convent was erected at Barangay Santa Barbara, Baliuag before the Parokya was formally established at the now Plaza Naning, Poblacion.

"Lumang Municipio" (Baliuag Museum and Library).

Fr. Joaquín Martínez de Zúñiga arrived in the Philippines on August 3, 1786 and visited Baliuag on February 17, 1802 with Ignacio Maria de Álava y Sáenz de Navarrete. Their host was Baliuag's Parish Priest, Fray Esteban Diez Hidalgo.[8] Fr. Diez served as the longest cura parroco of Baliuag from 1789, having built the church and convent from 1790 to 1801.

Spanish records "Apuntes históricos de la provincia augustiniana del Santísimo Nombre de Jesús de Filipinas"[9] reveal that Fr. Juan de Albarran, OSA was assigned Parish Priest of Baliuag in 1733. The first baptism in Baliuag Church was ordered by Fr. Lector and Fr. Feliz Trillo, Provincial of the Province on June 7, 1933 while Baliuag was founded and began its de jure existence on May 26, 1733. The pueblo or town was created in the provincial Chapter on May 15, 1734, with the appointment of Fr. Manuel Bazeta/Baseta as first cura parroco.[10]

In 1769-1774, the Church of Baliuag was built by Father Gregorio Giner. The present structure (the third church to be rebuilt, due to considerable damage during the 1880 Luzon earthquakes) was later rebuilt by Father Esteban Diaz using mortar and stone. The 1866 Belfry was also completed by Father Matias Novoa but the July 19, 1880 quake damaged the same which was later repaired by Father Thomas Gresa.[11][12]

The earthquake of June 3, 1863, one of the strongest to ever hit Manila, destroyed the Governor's Palace in Intramuros. Malacañang then became the permanent residence of the head of the country. The massive quake also damaged the Baliuag Church.[13] In 1870, the reconstruction began when a temporary house of worship, the “Provincial”, along Año 1733 street, emerged as a narrow, and simple edifice which later used by the RVM Sisters of the Colegio de la Sagrada Familia (now St. Mary's College of Baliuag) as the classroom. Antonio de Mesa, “Maestrong Tonio" fabricated the parts to have finished the Spanish-era Baliuag Church.

First Municipio

Baliuag had 30 curates (1733–1898): Fr. Esteban Diez Hidalgo and Fr. Fausto Lopez served 40 and 24 years, respectively. Fr. Lopez had 6 children with a beautiful native, Mariquita: Dr. Joaquin Gonzalez, Francisco, the former Assemblyman Ricardo Lloret Gonzales (Legislative districts of Bulacan, 5th Philippine Legislature), and Jose the eldest who was widely known as “Pepeng Mariquita", inter alia. Spanish cura parroco, Fr. Ysidoro Prada served in Baliuag during the last decade of the Spaniard regime.

The Philippine-American civil and military authorities supervised the first municipal elections, having chosen Baliuag as the site of the first Philippine elections of May 7, 1899.[14] The Filipinos gathered at the plaza of the St. Augustine Church after the Holy Mass, and thereafter the officials were selected based on the qualifications for voters set by the Americans.[15]

The first town Gobernadorcillo (1789 title) of Baliuag was Cap. Jose de Guzman.[16] He was assisted by the Tribunal's teniente mayor (chief lieutenant), juez de ganadas (judge of the cattle), juez de sementeras (judge of the field) and juez de policia (judge of the police). In the History of the Philippines (1521–1898), the 1893 Maura Law, the title of Gobernadorcillo became "capitan municipal" and that of each juez to teniente. From Baliuag's independence from Quingua, now Plaridel, Bulacan to 1898, 49 served as capitan, 13 alcalde and 92 as Gobernadorcillo. Felix de Lara (1782) and Agustin de Castro (1789) were the 1st alcalde and Gobernadorcillo, respectively. Municipal President Fernando Enrile, in 1908, honored some of these officials, even naming some of Baliuag calles in their honor, later. But all these political officials remained under the thumbs and the habito, of the autocratic Augustinian friars, the Baliuag Kura Parokos.

The local government of Baliuag used as first Municipio under the American regime (History of the Philippines (1898–1946)) the Mariano Yoyongko (Gobernadorcillo in 1885) Principalia in Poblacion (now a part of the market site), which it bought from Yoyongko.[17]

On September 15, 1915, Baliuag municipality bought the heritage mansion and a lot of Dr. Joaquin Gonzalez. The Gonzalez old mansion served as Lumang Municipio (the Old Municipio or Town Hall Building, as the seat of the local government) for 65 years. It is now the Baliuag Museum and Library.

Baliuag produced not less than 30 priests, including 3 during the Spanish-Dominican, and 2 Jesuits during the American regimes.

Jeorge Allan R. Tengco and Amy R. Tengco (wife of Lito S. Tengco), philanthropists, owners of Baliwag Transit and other chains of business establishments had been conferred the Papal Orders of Chivalry October 3, 2000 Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice and the 2012 Dame of the Order of St. Gregory the Great awards.[18]

Don Mariano Ponce

Mariano Ponce was a native of Baliwag. He was a founding member of the Propaganda Movement together with José Rizal and Marcelo del Pilar; a former assemblyman of the second district of Bulacan to the Philippine Assembly; and the co-founder of La Solidaridad with fellow co-founder Graciano López-Jaena. His most common names are Naning (the Plaza Naning in Baliwag being named after his nickname); Kalipulako, named after the Cebuano hero Lapu-Lapu; and Tagibalang or Tigbalang (Tikbalang), a supernatural being in Filipino folklore.[19]

Barangays

Baliwag is politically subdivided into 27 barangays.

PSGC	Barangay	Population			±% p.a.
		2015[4]		2010[20]
031403001	Bagong Nayon	3.7%	5,616	5,994	▾	−1.23%
031403002	Barangca	2.0%	3,051	2,742	▴	2.05%
031403003	Calantipay	1.9%	2,784	2,613	▴	1.21%
031403004	Catulinan	1.3%	1,916	1,769	▴	1.53%
031403005	Concepcion	6.6%	9,933	9,585	▴	0.68%
031403006	Hinukay	1.4%	2,140	1,419	▴	8.14%
031403007	Makinabang	7.8%	11,715	11,196	▴	0.87%
031403008	Matangtubig	1.8%	2,630	2,859	▾	−1.58%
031403010	Pagala	2.6%	3,843	3,139	▴	3.93%
031403011	Paitan	1.0%	1,517	1,440	▴	1.00%
031403012	Piel	1.5%	2,229	1,955	▴	2.53%
031403013	Pinagbarilan	3.6%	5,357	5,178	▴	0.65%
031403014	Poblacion.	6.3%	9,448	9,668	▾	−0.44%
031403016	Sabang	7.6%	11,350	11,960	▾	−0.99%
031403017	San Jose	4.4%	6,575	5,346	▴	4.02%
031403018	San Roque	2.4%	3,554	3,402	▴	0.84%
031403019	Santa Barbara	7.8%	11,676	11,568	▴	0.18%
031403020	Santo Cristo	5.9%	8,840	8,650	▴	0.41%
031403021	Santo Niño	2.5%	3,818	3,470	▴	1.84%
031403022	Subic	3.7%	5,506	4,550	▴	3.70%
031403023	Sulivan	3.4%	5,070	4,776	▴	1.14%
031403024	Tangos	3.8%	5,699	5,578	▴	0.41%
031403025	Tarcan	4.9%	7,333	6,892	▴	1.19%
031403026	Tiaong	3.3%	5,006	4,903	▴	0.40%
031403027	Tibag	2.0%	3,014	3,746	▾	−4.06%
031403028	Tilapayong	2.3%	3,389	2,494	▴	6.01%
031403030	Virgen delas Flores	4.6%	6,945	6,673	▴	0.76%
	Total		149,954	143,565	▴	0.83%

Climate

Climate data for Baliuag, Bulacan
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average high °C (°F)	28 (82)	29 (84)	31 (88)	33 (91)	32 (90)	31 (88)	30 (86)	29 (84)	29 (84)	30 (86)	30 (86)	28 (82)	30 (86)
Average low °C (°F)	20 (68)	20 (68)	21 (70)	22 (72)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	24 (75)	23 (73)	22 (72)	21 (70)	22 (72)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	6 (0.2)	4 (0.2)	6 (0.2)	17 (0.7)	82 (3.2)	122 (4.8)	151 (5.9)	123 (4.8)	124 (4.9)	99 (3.9)	37 (1.5)	21 (0.8)	792 (31.1)
Average rainy days	3.3	2.5	11.7	6.6	17.7	22.2	25.2	23.7	23.2	17.9	9.2	5.2	168.4
Source: Meteoblue [21]

Demographics

Population census of Baliuag

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1903 15,936 —     1918 18,254 +0.91% 1939 22,972 +1.10% 1948 30,670 +3.26% 1960 37,409 +1.67%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1970 52,133 +3.37% 1975 61,624 +3.41% 1980 70,555 +2.74% 1990 89,719 +2.43% 1995 103,054 +2.63%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 2000 119,675 +3.26% 2007 136,982 +1.88% 2015 149,954 +1.14%
Source: Philippine Statistics Authority[4][20][22][23]

In the 2015 census, the population of Baliuag, Bulacan, was 149,954 people,[4] with a density of 3,300 inhabitants per square kilometre or 8,500 inhabitants per square mile.

Religion

Baliuag at present has five parishes, a sub-parish and a quasi-parish under the administration of Diocese of Malolos.

Economy

Economy of Baliuag, Bulacan
Baliuag Town Proper
2017 Financial Highlights[24]
Financial Conditions Total Assets: PHP 613.43 million Total Liabilities: PHP 230.64 million Total Equity: PHP 382.78 million
Results of Operations Total Revenues: PHP 491.54 million Total Expenses: PHP 459.84 million Excess Income Over Expenses: PHP 31.70 million
Sources and Application of Funds Appropriation and Allotments: PHP 507.30 million Obligations: PHP 480.09 million Balances: PHP 27.21 million

Major industries

• Garments
• Pyrotechnics
• Food/Food Processing
• Furniture
• Swine
• Chicken Production
• Automobile Industry

Major products

• Buntal Hat and Bags
• Bakeries (Native Pandesal, Ensaymada, Spanish Bread)
• Native Delicacies (Chicharon, Puto, Pastillas de Leche)
• Lechon Manok

Malls & supermarkets

• SM City Baliuag
• A Square
• Puregold Baliuag
• Super8 Grocery Warehouse
• Puregold DRT Highway
• Puregold Tangos
• Savemore Supermarket
• Ultra Mega Supermarket
• Unitop Baliuag
• NSN (U/C)
• RCS (U/C)

Local government

Baliuag Town Hall

2019-2022 Baliuag Municipal Officials [25] [26]

Position	Name	Party
Mayor	Ferdinand "Ferdie" V. Estrella		PDP–Laban
Vice Mayor	Christopher "Cris" F. Clemente		NUP
Councilors	Marie Claudette "Madette" S. Quimpo		NUP
	Enrique "Buko" dela Cruz, Jr.		Independent
	Lee Edward "Dingdong" V. Nicolas		PDP–Laban
	Maria Isabel "Mabel" L. Pascual		NUP
	Wilfredo "Willy" Lapira		NUP
	Lowell C. Tagle		PDP–Laban
	Antonio "Tony" Patawaran		PDP–Laban
	Rodrigo "Ogie" Baltazar		PDP–Laban
Ex Officio Municipal Council Members
ABC President	Ricky Romulo (Tiaong)		Nonpartisan
SK Federation President	Jaime Viceo IV (Santa Barbara)		Nonpartisan

List of former mayors

No.	Presidente Municipal	Took office	Left office
1	Francisco Guerrero	1899	1899
2	Jose Rustia	1900	1900
3	Ancieto Valencia	1901	1903
4	Dr. Domingo M. Enrile	1904	1905
5	Jose Lajom	1906	1907
6	Fernando Enrile	1908	1909
7	Martin H. Prado	1910	1912
8	Juan Racelis	1913	1918
9	Pablo Camacho	1919	1922
10	Emilio Rustia	1922	1925
11	Pedro R. Mateo	1925	1930
12	Dr. Peregrino E. Sauco	1931	1934
13	Atty. Wenceslao Ortega	1934	1937
No.	Alcalde	Took office	Left office
1	Dr. Guilermo dela Merced	1938	1941
2	Rafael Chico	1942	1945
No.	Municipal Mayors	Took office	Left office
1	Maj. Servando C. Santos	1946	1955
2	Roberto E. Chico	1956	1959
3	Felix Tiongson	1960	1963
4	Roberto E. Chico	1964	1967
5	Florentino Vergel de Dios	1968	1980
6	Dominador Enrile	1980	1981
7	Leonardo C. Mananghaya	1981	1986
8	Atty. Emilio Camacho Santos (OIC)	1986	1988
9	Reynaldo S. del Rosario	1988	1992
10	Cornelio P. Trinidad	1992	1994
11	Edilberto S. Tengco	1994	1998
12	Rolando F. Salvador	1998	2004
13	Romeo M. Estrella	2004	2013
14	Carolina L. Dellosa, M.D	2013	2016
15	Ferdinand V. Estrella	2016	incumbent

Attractions

Baliuag Clock Tower

Baliuag is the home of the first self-supporting clock tower in Bulacan, which is a heritage attraction in the town.

Lenten Processions

Baliuag is known for its Semana Santa (Holy Week) processions, which are among the longest religious processions in the Philippines. As of 2019, the procession hosts a record 124 (121, with 3 additional) carros or carrozas (floats) with life-sized santos (statues) joined in the parade showcasing events from the life and passion of Christ.

Buntal Hat Festival

A buntal hat from Baliuag

Buntal Hat Festival is a celebration of the culture of buntal hat making in the town that is simultaneously celebrated with Mother's Day annually. Colorful and grandiose decorations and street dancing are the highlights of this celebration.

Other attractions

• 3006 Augustine Square (A. Square)
• Baliuag Glorietta Park
• Baliuag Museum and Library (Lumang Municipio)
• Mariano Ponce Ancestral House Museum
• The Greenery Events Place
• The Baliwag Star Arena
• Jose Rizal Monument at Plaza Naning
• Baliwag Pasalubong Center
• Parish Museum of Old Religious Artifacts (Parish of St. Augustine)
• Carozza Makers
• Artisan Street (Bone In-Lay Handicrafts)
• Baliwag Heroes’ Park
• Baliwag Night Market
• Baliwag Christmas Night Market
• The Chapters

Transportation

BTI main terminal in Plaza Naning, Baliuag

Public transportation in Baliuag is served by provincial buses, jeepneys, UV Express AUVs, and intra-municipal tricycles.

Baliwag Transit, Inc., one of the largest bus transportation system in the Philippines, is headquartered in Barangay Sabang. It mainly services routes to and from Metro Manila and Central Luzon.

There are three (3) major transport lines in the municipality: The Baliuag-Candaba (Benigno S. Aquino Avenue) road going to Pampanga (from the Downtown Baliuag to Candaba Town Proper), the Old Cagayan Valley road (Calle Rizal) and the Dona Remedios Trinidad Highway (N1, AH26) going to Manila and Nueva Ecija. The town is located 52 kilometers north of Manila, the capital of the Philippines.

Education

Baliuag has several private colleges and universities.

Tertiary Education

• Baliuag University – is the first school granted full autonomy in Region III by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED).
• Baliuag Polytechnic College – is a public tertiary and vocational educational institution in Baliuag.
• Fernandez College of Arts and Technology –
• St. Mary's College of Baliuag – is a Catholic school founded in 1912.
• STI College Baliuag
• ACLC Baliuag
• Marian College Of Baliuag

Primary and Secondary Education

• Montessori De Sagrada Familia is a private basic education school known for its state of the art learning and sports facilities. In its 20th year, Montessori De Sagrada Familia launched its social hall, The Chapters. It can accommodate all types of school events. Computer Colleges such as STI College Baliuag and ACLC are also found in the municipality. It is one of the biggest schools in Central Luzon. Montessori De Sagrada Familia was built in 1997, earlier than that, Living Angels Christian School opened their school.

• Living Angeles Christian School is a private basic education school known for good facilities and near at SM Baliuag, and etc.

Gallery

• 
  Baliuag Welcome Arch from Pulilan, Bulacan
• 
  Baliuag Clock tower
• 
  Baliuag Glorietta Park at night
• 
  Ang Baliuag kay Rizal Monument
• 
  Baliuag Star Arena
• 
  Baliuag District Hospital

See also

• Good Friday processions in Baliuag
• St. Augustine Parish Church of Baliuag
• Baliuag Museum and Library
• Sub-Parish Church of Santo Cristo
• Lady of Most Holy Rosary Parish Church
• Fernandez College of Arts and Technology
• Baliuag University
• St. Mary's College of Baliuag
• Baliwag Transit
• SM City Baliuag
• Dr. Joaquin Gonzalez

References

1. https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=762875027066434&id=162440863776523
2. "Municipality". Quezon City, Philippines: Department of the Interior and Local Government. Retrieved 31 May 2013.
3. "Province: Bulacan". PSGC Interactive. Quezon City, Philippines: Philippine Statistics Authority. Retrieved 12 November 2016.
4. Census of Population (2015). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. PSA. Retrieved 20 June 2016.
5. "PSA releases the 2015 Municipal and City Level Poverty Estimates". Quezon City, Philippines. Retrieved 1 January 2020.
6. ""Commission on Audit 2017 Report-Bulacan"". Quezon City, Philippines: Commission on Audit. Retrieved 8 July 2018.
7. MARTINEZ de ZUÑIGA OSA, Fr Joaquín (1803). Historia de las Islas Philipinas (2 vols) (in Spanish). Sampaloc: Impreso por Fr. Pedro Argüelles de la Concepción. OCLC 30062450.
8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-10-12. Retrieved 2013-03-30.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
9. "Apuntes históricos de la provincia augustiniana del Santísimo Nombre de Jesús de Filipinas : a... - National Library of Australia". nla.gov.au. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
11. "Protected Blog". wordpress.com. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
12. "Visita Iglesia: The old churches of Bulacan, Part 1 of 2". Simbahan. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
13. Malacañang Palace#Etymology
14. Balabo, Dino (2007-05-07). "Baliuag marks 108 years of town elections". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 2012-12-31.
15. "Baliuag marks 108 years of town elections". The Philippine Star. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
16. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-10-12. Retrieved 2013-01-07.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
17. "Multiply.com". multiply.com. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 24 June 2015.
18. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-01-03. Retrieved 2011-01-12.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
19. "Mariano Ponce". Official Website of the Provincial Government of Bulacan. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
20. Census of Population and Housing (2010). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Total Population by Province, City, Municipality and Barangay. NSO. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
21. "Baliuag: Average Temperatures and Rainfall". Meteoblue. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
22. Censuses of Population (1903–2007). "Region III (Central Luzon)". Table 1. Population Enumerated in Various Censuses by Province/Highly Urbanized City: 1903 to 2007. NSO.
23. "Province of Bulacan". Municipality Population Data. Local Water Utilities Administration Research Division. Retrieved 17 December 2016.
24. ""Commission on Audit Financial Report 2016-Baliwag"". Quezon City, Philippines: Commission on Audit (COA). Retrieved 29 June 2018.
25. ""Municipal Officials-Baliwag"". City of Malolos, Bulacan: Provincial Government of Bulacan Official Website. Retrieved 29 June 2018.
26. ""Sangguniang Kabataan, Sumasailalim sa Pagsasanay. SK Chair Jaime Viceo IV ng Santa Barbara nahalal na SK Federation President."". Baliwag, Bulacan: Baliwag City News Online. Retrieved 29 June 2018.

External links

• Baliuag Profile at PhilAtlas.com
• Local Government Unit: Municipality of Baliuag
• Baliwag Bulacan
• Philippine Standard Geographic Code
• Philippine Census Information
• Baliwag Official Site